It’s been a tough time for the RNLI and its supporters, with the lifesaving charity forced to issue security advice following protests in Dover and Portsmouth that saw the charity targeted for its rescue work bringing some small boat migrants ashore.

Nationwide, RNLI volunteers and staff “have been the subject of online and, in some cases, physical abuse”, the charity said, and there have been issues in the ‘Cambrian News’ region too.

A New Quay RNLI volunteer’s car has been vandalised, and a Ceredigion councillor suffered “ugly and scary” online anti-RNLI abuse.

A fundraising page has been set up to help Ben McDonald, whose car was damaged while he was in Aberaeron collecting a takeaway.

The scratches are too deep to repair without significant cost.

Explaining how much Ben does for others, the fundraising page, set up by friend Dan Montgomery, says: “Ben is an RNLI lifeboat volunteer and also volunteers as a Community Responder for the local Ambulance Service. On top of that, he works incredibly hard across two different chip shops, often working late into the night before finally getting home.

“Ben is the sort of person who is always willing to give his time to help someone else. He puts others before himself and never expects anything in return.”

It also explains how proud he is of his car.

“He worked incredibly hard to be able to buy it and has put a huge amount of time, effort and money into getting it exactly how he wanted it. To have it damaged in such a senseless and random incident has understandably been really upsetting.

“We’re hoping to raise enough to help Ben get the damage repaired and take some of that worry away from him.

“If you can spare anything at all, no matter how small, it would mean a huge amount to Ben. Every donation will help.

“And if you’re not in a position to donate, simply sharing this fundraiser could make a massive difference.

“Let’s show Ben the same kindness and support that he gives to others every single day.”

The fundraising page can be found at https://shorturl.at/HPx2d

When Ceredigion councillor Elizabeth Evans posted a Facebook video on 12 September of New Quay lifeboat on a routine training launch and exercise, she was abused.

Cllr Evans said she deliberately kept her Facebook page “not overtly political,” as “a space where everyone feels comfortable commenting” but has now edited reverted her settings back to ‘friends’ only.

“The abuse on my Facebook following my RNLI video was ugly and it was scary. I deleted all their comments before closing the page.

“Not one abusive comment was from any of my Facebook community, or from within Ceredigion.

“However, abuse is abuse.

“There is no place on my Facebook for abusive comments, or a vehicle to further and promote hatred.”

Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Cllr Evans said: “Unfortunately, social media is being used more and more to propagate hate and not debate in our communities, by whatever means available.

“All levels of elected representatives are increasingly subjected to abuse, and that should never become the norm.

“What I find abhorrent however, is the comments on my Facebook directed towards a charitable organisation like the RNLI, whose raison d’être is to save lives, and is volunteer-led.

“Social media platform providers should without doubt do more to intervene.”

She added that the “positive comments in support of the RNLI speak loud and clear, and I and others will always support them in the amazing work they do.”

In 2023, six New Quay lifeboat crew members were presented with an RNLI gallantry award for their bravery in rescuing a crew from an ocean-going rowing boat during Storm Arwen.

In November 2021, the crew launched to answer a Mayday call from an ocean-going rowing boat in difficulty while travelling from Ireland to Aberystwyth.

One of the rowers had already been evacuated by a Coastguard rescue helicopter after suffering a head injury but the remaining crew found themselves semi-submerged in rough seas.

The six RNLI crew members received the accolade for their seamanship, resilience, determination and courage in rescuing the three rowers.

After the rescue, the ocean rowing boat skipper said: “I have nothing but praise for the professionalism and efficiency of the RNLI volunteers who saved our lives, they were quite simply remarkable.”

Pembrokeshire is home to five RNLI lifeboat stations - situated in Tenby, St Davids, Angle, Little and Broadhaven, and Fishguard.

Tenby became the busiest RNLI lifeboat station in the whole of the UK on Thursday, 13 August, with six shouts in one day.

Since the RNLI issued its statement, people have rallied round the charity and donations have flooded in, and Tenby North ward’s Cllr Michael Williams is delighted. He said: “I welcome the statement put out by the CEO of the RNLI which clearly outlined their priorities which is saving lives.

“It is an indictment of today’s increasingly sick society when crew members and RNLI staff are advised to use discretion when wearing clothing which identifies them as RNLI members.

“It’s truly wonderful to know that since the press reports outlining the threats made to RNLI Volunteers there has been a considerable increase in donations to the charity.

“To threaten or attempt to intimidate these volunteers is completely unacceptable in any civilised society. I sincerely hope that they continue to wear their RNLI clothing with pride.”

Across the water, Anthony Rees, Chair of Trustees/Coxswain at Ferryside Lifeboat -an independent station not affiliated with the RNLI - and his crew showed support for fellow volunteers who risk their lives every day out on the water, responding to shouts.

"As an independent lifeboat charity, we stand with our friends and colleagues in the RNLI. The abuse and misinformation that they have endured in recent days is abhorrent, and all at Ferryside Lifeboat utterly condemn anyone that propagates such vileness aimed at those who volunteer to go to sea to help a person in distress.

“We are lifeboat crew, and we will always stand up to help those in peril on the sea,” he remarked.